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  1. Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    879
    #1

    ORLANDOFla. - Ford announced a recall of about 792,000 vehicles Thursday to address fires related to speed-control switches in four of the company's models.

    The fires were reported in a series of WESH NewsChannel 2 reports in December.

    The recall affects 2000 model year Ford F-150s, Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, as well as 2001 F-Series Supercrew trucks manufactured during the same time period as the other 2000 model year vehicles, a Ford news release stated.

    A WESH NewsChannel 2 investigation has discovered that even when turned off, each of these vehicles can burst into flames because the design allows electrical power to continue to flow from the battery to the switch.

    "Therefore allowing the switch itself to continually heat up until it actually bursts into flames," said automotive expert Larry Perry.

    Officials with the company recommend owners have the switches deactivated to eliminate the risk of fires. Ford will later notify owners of the vehicles by mail with information regarding how to correct the problem. The company is in the process of acquiring a sufficient supply of replacement speed-control switches.

    Ford said it has received complaints of 63 fires, including from one person who was injured in a fire, but a WESH NewsChannel 2 investigation found the problem may be more widespread.

    During a two-month investigation, WESH NewsChannel 2 documented more than 250 fires in these Ford vehicles. Our interviews with drivers, mechanics, fire investigators and federal safety investigators have led us to a tiny $13 part located under the hood.

    Some owners have reported that their trucks caught fire without warning, sometimes after sitting parked for hours in parking lots, driveways, carports and garages.

    Perry, a mechanic with Magic Mechanic, has been helping WESH NewsChannel 2 with our investigation for the last couple months. He said the part is failing because there's no back-up plan.

    "It's actually fed by a constant 12 volts. There's no ignition key on, ignition key off situation with it. So, what's happening is, if there's a problem with this deactivation switch, that goes on to the master (brake) cylinder, it can literally short out and catch on fire without blowing a fuse, which is the circuit's protection," Perry said.

    Perry said he thinks Ford's recall is too narrow.

    "This goes from 1997 to 2002, and this is not Ford's first (time) with this problem," Perry said.

    For more details go to MSN FORD

  2. Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    14,825
    #2
    so that's why...

    speed-control switches? is this the speed limiter?

  3. Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    879
    #3
    No I don't think it's the speed limeter but it's most likely the cruise control.

  4. Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Posts
    879
    #4
    The local ford will join the recall soon.

  5. Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    1,230
    #5
    Ford had too many quality issues in the past and if you google "ford recall" you will see hundreds of them. That explains why they have low resale value here in the US. BTW, for a lot of people here, Ford stands for Fix Or Repair Daily.

  6. Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    71
    #6
    Local Ford dealers know and honor (they've been advised by FGP) this recall and they have the part, "speed control deactivation switch" which is similar to a "hydraulic stop light switch". I disconnected mine to be safe (no time yet to go to the dealer, it's a very simple job really, switch on hand it can be done in less than 5 minutes). This is the switch at the end of the brake master cylinder (2000 F150 Lariat in my case), disconnect it to be safe. The effect, no cruise control reset when you step on the brakes.

  7. Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    71
    #7
    http://www.ford.com/en/vehicles/owne...ls/default.htm

    Try this to see if your Ford has a recall.

  8. Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    1,107
    #8
    Napanood ko sa TV yan.... kakatakot, hehehe.... sumasabog na lang basta-basta....

  9. Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    285
    #9
    Kasali ba escape sa recall na ito? Thanks!

  10. Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Posts
    512
    #10
    Hindi kasali ang Escape

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FORD recalls 792,000 SUV's